The Note: Bernie Won't Back Down

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June 17, 2016

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Bernie Won't Back Down

Sanders Will Join Effort to Defeat Trump in 'Very Short Period of Time'

Bernie Sanders did not formally concede or back his primary rival Hillary Clinton during a live online address to his fans last night, despite Clinton last week securing enough delegates to become the Democratic Party's nominee. Sanders did, however, promise to join her and the Democratic party in a more active role in their effort to defeat Donald Trump. "The major political task that together we face in the next five months is to make certain that Donald Trump is defeated and defeated badly, and I personally intend to begin my role in that process in a very short period of time," he said in his remarks, which he filmed in a television studio in his hometown and read off of a teleprompter. ABC's MARYALICE PARKS has more. http://abcn.ws/1Uz6NOh

Analysis -- ABC's Rick Klein

Leave it to this candidate, and leave it to this political year, to create a new variety of candidacy. After his speech to supporters Thursday night, Bernie Sanders is still an active candidate for president. But that doesn't mean he's engaging in any campaign activity. He stated clearly that he wants to defeat Donald Trump. But, since he declined to endorse someone (can't imagine who) actually running against him in the general election, he's not yet saying how he wants to accomplish that. The broad goals of his "political revolution" – fighting for the working class, galvanizing a generation, even reforming the Democratic Party – might be things that Hillary Clinton and her team can get behind. But coming from a candidate who was beaten by Clinton in every measurable way – and, if the reminder is needed, never wanted to even be a Democrat until a year ago – Sanders is in danger of losing the leverage he accumulated relatively fast. The party would not countenance Clinton doing what Sanders is now; that's an undeniable fact, as anyone who remembers 2008 would know. The question now becomes how long Sanders can keep his revolution going without wearing out his welcome.

Happening Today

Today, both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are off the trail, but Donald Trump remains in the bright red state of Texas for a rally tonight in Houston, ABC's SHUSHANNAH WALSHE notes. He's spent most of the week -- not in battleground states he will need in November -- but states that will remain red like Texas and Georgia. That changes tomorrow, though, when he heads to Las Vegas in critical Nevada.

This Week on 'This Week'

After the Orlando mass shooting, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch comes to "This Week" Sunday. Then, House Homeland Security Committee Chair Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, weighs in on how to combat the growing terror threat. And, the Powerhouse Roundtable debates the week in politics, with staff writer for The Atlantic Molly Ball, ABC News contributor and ESPN senior writer LZ Granderson, National Review editor Rich Lowry, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, and ABC News contributor and Republican strategist and pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson.